Dispenser for granular materials and the like



Nov. 15, 1966 p. a. GEIGER ETAL 3,285,471

DISPENSER FOR GRANULAR MATERIALS AND THE LIKE Filed July 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS RUSSELL C.GEIGER 8 Y PAUL B. GEIGER WWM /W ATTORNEY 15, 1966 P. a. GEIGER ETAL 3,

DISPENSER FOR GRANULAR MATERIALS AND THE LIKE Filed July 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG '3 WWW a ATTORNE United States Patent O a dispenser for granular ma- This invention relates t rgents used in dishwashing terials, such as granular dete machines and the like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved dispensing device which is of relatively simple and economical construction and operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which provide-s adequate coverage for granular detergents or the like to shield the material in the dispenser from water during that initial part of the operation of the machine where the material is not needed, until the proper time in the machine cycle arrives, at which time the dispenser opens readily and fully to permit all of the detergent to be easily washed from the dev ce.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the aforementioned type which can be triggered to open with a relatively small force such as can be suppliedfro-m a small solenoid, thereby providing a dispenser which is completely self-contained and requires only appropriate connection to a source of electrical energy for its operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings- FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a dispenser according to the invention mounted in the door of a front opening dishwashing machine;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the dispenser with the door thereof in closed position, as it would be when the dispenser is prepared for operation;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken generally on line 33 of FIG. 2, but showing the solenoid in elevation;

and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the rear of the dispenser.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dispensing device provided hereby is shown incorporated in a dishwashing machine of known type, for example, as shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 3,125,105. The machine includes a front opening door hinged at its bottom edge to open forward and downward. The door is preferably formed of inner and outer panels, the former of which is indicated at 1'2, and in which there is formed a suitable mounting cavity 14 of generally circular configuration. The body 15 of the dispensing device is mounted in this cavity, being held in place by a number of mounting screws 16 which are threaded into the flange 18 of the dispenser body. From the back side a gasket 19 preferably is placed between the flange 18 and the bottom of the mounting cavity 14 in the inner door panel 12, providing a water-tight seal between the door panel 12 and the dispenser body.

The dispenser body preferably, but not necessarily, is molded from a suitable synthetic material, and inwardly of the rim 18 there are formed a pair of dispensing pockets 20 and 22 (FIG. 2). These pockets are separated by a partition or wall 23 at the location which is the bottom of the dispenser when the door is in its closed or vertical position, such that the partition 23 extends vertically. This partition extends from the flange 18 to a central hub portion 25, and on the opposite side of the hub there is a relatively wider, sector shaped, separating portion 27. On the face of this portion there are formed upstanding lugs 30 and 32, preferably as an integral part of the dis penser body, and defining respectively the open and closed positions of the rotary door 35. This door is mounted for rotary sliding movement within a recessed circular lip 01 shoulder 36 of the housing 15, and the door is of generally sector shape dimensioned to cover one of the openings 20 or 22. In the normal operating position, as will be explained, the chamber 22 is covered and chamber 20 is open.

The hub portion 25 is provided with a central bore in which the operating shaft 40 is mounted for both rotary and sliding movement. The front end of this shaft extends through a seal ring 4 1 and into the hub portion 43 of the door 35. A cross pin 44 extends through shaft 40 and into a slot 45 within the door hub 43 to provide for simultaneous rotary movement of the door and shaft while allowing for limited sliding movement of the shaft along its axis and relative to the door. At the other end of shaft 40 there is a latch member mounted to the shaft by a pin 52. The hole 53 in the latch member is somewhat tapered, as shown, to provide for a rocking motion of the latch member on the shaft, but the pin 52 connects these parts for simultaneous rotation, thus the latch member and the door rotate together. A latch spring 55 surrounds the end of the shaft 40 within the door hub 43, pressing against the cross pin 44 and thereby urging the latch member 50 into contact with the hub portion 25 of the dispenser body, as shown in FIG. 3.

A flexible cover or diaphragm 56 is mounted within the hub of the door, extending over the end of shaft 40 to provide for manual reciprocation of shaft 40 if that should be necessary, while sealing the interior of the door hub from liquid. The reason for this arrangement is described later herein.

The normally upward end 58 of the latch member 50 is widened somewhat, as shown in FIG. 4, and is adapted to fit between stop lugs 60 formed on th back surface of the dispenser housing. There is also a ramp portion 62 provided to guide the end of the latch member up into position between the stops when the door is moved to its closed position, ready for operation. In this position the opposite end of the latch member 50, provided with a small extension 63, is engaged beneath a stationary plate 64 mounted on the housing as shown particularly in FIG. 4. The power for rotating the door 35 from its closed to its open position (with respect to chamber 22) is provided by a torsion spring 65 anchored at one end to the housing hub 25 and at the other end to the latch member 50.

Above the latch member there is a bracket secured to the dispenser body and mounting a solenoid 72 having an armature 73 and a pair of electrical contact tabs 74. The armature 73 rests on a trigger member 75 which includes a pair of ears 76 mounted on a shaft 78, which in turn is mounted through stationary ears 79 for-med on the bracket 70. Surrounding shaft 78 is a small torsion spring 80 acting between the trigger member 75 and bracket 70 tending to move the trigger member against the solenoid armature 73.

For purposes of explaining the operation of the device it will be assumed that a suitable quantity of detergent or other material is placed in chamber 22 and door 35 has been rota-ted manually to its closed position as shown in FIG. 2, using the tab 82 on the door at the time the edge 83 of the door engages stop 32 on the front of the dispenser body, and at the same time the end 58 of the latch member 50 drops between the stops 60. The dispenser is then in a cocked or ready position. If desired, some detergent or other material can be placed in the open chamber 20 to be used during a preliminary washing operation of the machine. The detergent in chamber 22 is held there until the timer of the machine completes a circuit through the coil of solenoid 72 when that portion of the operating cycle is reached where it is desired to mix the detergent with the wash water.

At that time, energizing the solenoid will cause the armature 73 to press down against trigger member 75, and in turn it will press against the latch member 50 urging its end 58 outward beyond the stops 60. A relatively small force is required for this operation, but once the latch member is released from the stops, the energy stored in torsion spring 65 will be released and this spring will rotate the shaft 40, and thus the door 35 until its edge 84 engages the stop 30 on the front of the dispenser body. At this time the door 35 will have moved to uncover chamber 22 completely and the door will overlie chamber 20.

When it is desired to reload the dispenser for another operation, it is merely necessary to place a charge of granular detergent or the like in chamber 22, and rotate the door 35 manually back to its starting or ready position. If for some reason this should be done accidentally, or if the operator should be unsure that a charge was placed in the chamber 22 before the dispenser door was closed, the door may be released manually by depressing diaphragm 56 to slide the shaft 40 rearward in its bore. At such time, the contact point between member 63 on the latch member and the stationary cars 64 will form a pivot point and the shaft will act through pin 52 to swing the latch member 50 outward beyond the stops 60, thereby releasing the dispenser door manually and opening it.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for dispensing a quantity of cleansing detergent or the like comprising, a body having formed therein at least one cavity with an opening to said cavity beingvzformed by an arcuate outer edge and at least two other edges defining the opening as a segment of a circle, a cover dimensioned to fit over said opening and close said cavity, means mounting said cover for movement about a pivot axis at the focal point of said arcuate edge and arranged to move between an open position uncovering said cavity and a closed position overlying said cavity, an operating shaft extending along an axis intersecting said focal point and attached to said cover, stop means defining the open position of said cover, driving means acting on said shaft tending to move said cover into engagement with said stop means, a latch member carried by said shaft and movable therewith along an arcuate path in relation to opening and closing movements of said cover, stop means mounted along said path at the position of said latch member corresponding to the closed position of said cover, latch spring means acting on said latch member to engage said latch member with said stop means for holding said cover in its closed position, and a releasing mechanism selectively engageable with said latch member to move said latch member away from said stop means and to allow said driving means to open said cover.

2. A device for dispensing a quantity of cleansing detergent or the like at a predetermined time during the operating cycle of a dishwashing machine, comprising a body having formed therein at least one cavity with an opening to saidcavity being formed by an arcuate outer edgeand at least two other edges defining the opening as a segment of a circle, a cover dimensioned to cover a said opening and close said cavity, means mounting said cover-tor sliding movement about a pivot axis at the cal' point of said arcuate edge and arranged to move 4 between an open position uncovering said cavity and a closed position overlying said cavity, an operating shaft extending along an axis intersecting said focal point and attached to said cover, stop means defining the open position of said cover, driving means acting on said shaft tending to move said cover into engagement with said stop means, a latch member carried by said shaft and movable therewith along an arcuate path in relation to opening and closing movements of said cover, stop means mounted along said path of movement over said latch member at the position thereof corresponding to the closed position of said cover, latch spring means acting on said latch member to engage said latch member with said stop means for holding said cover in its closed position, a releasing mechanism engageable with said latch member to move said latch member away from said stop means and thereby to cause said driving means to open said cover, and a solenoid arranged to actuate said releasing mechanism.

3. A device for dispensing a quantity of cleansing detergent or thelike comprising a generally circular body having formed therein a pair of cavities with the openings to said cavities being formed by an arcuate outer edge and at least two other edges defining each opening as the same size segment of a circle, a cover dimensioned to cover one of said openings and close the corresponding said cavity, means mounting said cover for sliding movement about a pivot axis at the focal point of said arcuate edge and arranged to move between an open position uncovering one of said cavities and covering the other cavity and a closed position overlying said one cavity and uncovering the other cavity, an operating shaft extending along an axis intersecting said focal point and attached to said cover, stop means defining the open position of said cover, torsion spring means acting on said shaft tending to move said cover into engagement with said stop means, a latch member carried by said shaft and movable therewith along an arcuate path in relation to opening and closing movements of said cover, stop means mounted along said path at the position of said latch member corresponding to the closed position of said cover, latch spring means acting on said latch member to engage said latch member with said stop means for holding said cover in its closed position against the force of said torsion spring means, a releasing mechanism engageable with said latch member to move said latch member away from said stop means and thereby to cause said torsion spring means to open said cover, and a selectively operable solenoid arranged to actuate said releasing mechanism.

4. In a dishwashing machine having a timer mechanism establishing an operating cycle and having walls defining a washing chamber, a device for dispensing a quantity of cleansing detergent or the like into the chamber, comprising a body adapted for mounting in one of said walls and having formed therein at least one cavity, said cavity including an opening formed by an arcuate outer edge and at least two other edges defining the opening as a segment of a circle and communicating with the chamber, a cover dimensioned to cover said opening and close said cavity, meansmounting said cover for sliding movement about a pivot axis at the focal point of said arcuate edge and arranged to move between an open position uncovering said cavity and a closed position overlying said cavity, an operating shaft extending along an axis intersecting said focal point and attached to said cover, stop means defining the open position of said cover, torsion spring means acting on said shaft tending to move said cover into engagement with said stop means, a latch member carried by said shaft and'movable therewith along an arcuate path in relation to opening and closing movements of said cover, stop means mounted along said path of movement of Said latch member at the position there- 6 latch spring means acting on said latch member to engage References Cited by the Examiner said latch member with said stop means for holding said UNITED STATES PATENTS cover in its closed position against the force of said torsion spring means, and a releasing mechanism selectively 5:?

I h d 0 1 z 1 opera le by sa1d timer mec amsm an enga ea e with 5 3,233,782 2/1966 Ullman et a1. 222 70 said latch member to move said latch member away from said stop means and thereby to cause said torsion spring means to open said cover at a predetermined time during HENSON WOOD Primary Exammer' the operating cycle of the machine. S. H. TOLLBERG, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING A QUANTITY OF CLEANSING DETERGENT OR THE LIKE COMPRISING, A BODY HAVING FORMED THEREIN AT LEAST ONE CAVITY WITH AN OPENING TO SAID CAVITY BEING FORMED BY AN ARCUATE OUTER EDGE AND AT LEAST TWO OTHER EDGES DEFINING THE OPENING AS A SEGMENT OF A CIRCLE, A COVER DIMENSIONED TO FIT OVER SAID OPENING AND CLOSE SAID CAVITY, MEANS MOUNTING SAID COVER FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT A PIVOT AXIS AT THE FOCAL POINT OF SAID ARCUATE EDGE AND ARRANGED TO MOVE BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION UNCOVERING SAID CAVITY AND A CLOSED POSITION OVERLYING SAID CAVITY, AN OPERATING SHAFT EXTENDING ALONG AN AXIS INTERSECTING SAID FOCAL POINT AND ATTACHED TO SAID COVER, STOP MEANS DEFINING THE OPEN POSITION OF SAID COVER, DRIVING MEANS ACTING ON SAID SHAFT TENDING TO MOVE SAID COVER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STOP MEANS, A LATCH MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT AND MOVABLE THEREWITH ALONG AN ARCUATE PATH IN RELATION TO OPENING AND CLOSING MOVEMENTS OF SAID COVER, STOP MEANS MOUNTED ALONG SAID PATH AT THE POSITION OF SAID LATCH MEMBER CORRESPONDING TO THE CLOSED POSITION OF SAID COVER, LATCH SPRING MEANS ACTING ON SAID LATCH MEMBER TO ENGAGE SAID LATCH MEMBER WITH SAID STOP MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID COVER IN ITS CLOSED POSITION, AND A RELEASING MECHANISM SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LATCH MEMBER TO MOVE SAID LATCH MEMBER AWAY FROM SAIDS STOP MEANS AND TO ALLOW SAID DRIVING MEANS TO OPEN SAID COVER. 